The Turkish game most similar to chess is Dama, also known as Turkish Drafts. It shares several fundamental characteristics with chess while possessing unique rules that make it a distinct and engaging strategic board game.
Understanding Dama: Turkish Drafts
Dama is a two-player board game played on an 8x8 square board, just like international chess. However, the game pieces and their movements differ significantly, offering a unique tactical experience.
How Dama is Played
Players begin with counters (pieces) arranged on specific rows, and the objective is typically to capture all of the opponent's pieces or block them from making any legal moves.
Key Features of Dama
- Board: Dama utilizes an 8x8 square board, identical to that used in chess, which provides a familiar playing field for strategy enthusiasts.
- Players: The game is played by 2 people, each controlling a set of pieces.
- Basic Movement: Initially, most counters move only forward, one square at a time. This forward-only movement is a distinctive feature compared to the varied movement of chess pieces.
- Promotion: A crucial aspect of Dama is promotion. When a player's counter successfully reaches the opponent's back row (the eighth rank), it transforms into a more powerful piece known as a "dama," or "flying king."
- "Dama" Movement: Once promoted, a "dama" gains significantly more mobility. It can move more freely across the board, much like a rook in the game of Chess, covering any number of unoccupied squares horizontally or vertically. This enhanced movement capability introduces complex strategic possibilities.
- Capture: Captures in Dama typically involve jumping over an opponent's adjacent piece into an empty square beyond it, removing the jumped piece from the board. Multiple captures can often be made in a single turn if opportunities arise.
Dama vs. Chess: A Quick Comparison
To better illustrate the similarities and differences, here's a comparative overview:
| Feature | Dama (Turkish Drafts) | Chess |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 2 | 2 |
| Board Size | 8x8 squares | 8x8 squares |
| Basic Piece Movement | Counters move forward only | Pawns move forward; other pieces have varied, complex moves |
| Promotion | Piece reaches back row, becomes a "dama" (flying king) | Pawn reaches back rank, can become Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight |
| "King" Movement | "Dama" (promoted piece) moves like a rook in Chess (any distance horizontally or vertically) | King moves one square in any direction |
| Piece Types | Simple counters, then "dama" | King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight, Pawn |
| Objective | Capture all opponent's pieces or render them immobile | Checkmate opponent's King |
| Strategic Depth | High, with emphasis on positioning and forced captures | Very high, with emphasis on tactical sequences and positional advantage |
While Dama and Chess both demand strategic thinking, planning, and foresight, Dama’s simpler initial piece movements and the unique "dama" promotion offer a distinct flavor of strategic challenge. It's a game deeply embedded in Turkish culture, providing an accessible yet profound intellectual contest.
